Sticker price remains the first hurdle for many electric vehicle shoppers, and several lists now track which models start lowest. Three publications supply the starting prices, so the figures reflect each publisher’s list rather than one uniform survey. Here are twelve electric models, ordered from the lowest starting price to the highest.
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1. Chevrolet Bolt: Cheapest on the List
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt starts at $28,995 with 262 miles of range, making it InsideEVs’ cheapest electric car on sale.
InsideEVs says all its prices include manufacturer destination charges, so the figure is closer to what a buyer sees on a window sticker than a bare base price. It is the only model here under $30,000, though incentives and dealer pricing can shift the final amount. A Bolt shopper should also check how the 262-mile range compares with the Leaf’s 303 miles, since the cheapest car is not the longest-range one.
2. Nissan Leaf: Longer Range, Slightly More
The 2026 Nissan Leaf lists at $31,485 with 303 miles of range, second-cheapest on InsideEVs’ price list.
That is about $2,490 above the Bolt, while offering 41 more miles of range on the figures given. Buyers choosing between the two are trading a lower price for more range, a trade-off worth testing against actual daily driving. The Leaf’s 2026 model year also makes it a more recent listing than the Kona Electric at 2025, which InsideEVs places third.
3. Hyundai Kona Electric: A Model Year Behind
The 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $34,470, third on InsideEVs’ ranking of the cheapest electric cars.
It is the one model here listed by a prior model year, and its price is nearly $3,000 above the Leaf’s. Shoppers should confirm availability and current pricing locally, since a 2025 model-year price may not match what dealers offer today. The Kona’s range is not given in the research, so buyers should look up the figure themselves before comparing it with the Bolt or the Leaf.
4. Toyota bZ: Priced by KBB
The 2026 Toyota bZ is listed at $36,350 by Kelley Blue Book’s deals page, which says every price includes the destination fee.
The listing is MSRP including destination, dated October 7, 2026. Buyers should compare it with the Equinox EV at $36,495 from Edmunds, noting the two publications use separate lists and dates, so a gap of a little over $100 is not a firm ranking. The bZ’s range is not given in the research, so shoppers should check that detail separately before weighing it against the Equinox EV’s 319 miles.
5. Chevrolet Equinox EV: Range Value
Edmunds lists the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV at $36,495 with a 319-mile base range: “just shy of $37,000, including the destination charge,” in its cheapest electric cars guide.
That 319 miles ranks among the longest base ranges quoted in this gallery, alongside the Model 3 Standard’s 321 miles. For shoppers who rank range above price, it is a likely stop, and the price still sits below the Ioniq 5 and Fiat 500e.
6. Hyundai Ioniq 5: Single Motor Saves
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at $36,600 in Edmunds’ cheapest-EV list, where the standard-range model with a single motor is the cheapest available.
Price differences by trim matter here: the starting figure applies only to that single-motor, standard-range version. A buyer wanting more power or range should expect to move up the price ladder from $36,600. Hyundai’s trim ladder means the real-world price of an Ioniq 5 can climb quickly, so the starting figure serves mainly as an entry point for comparison.
7. Fiat 500e: Small Range, Small Price Tag
The 2026 Fiat 500e is listed at $37,695 but offers only 149 miles of range on InsideEVs’ list.
That range is less than half the Leaf’s 303 miles and well short of the Bolt’s 262, so the numbers suggest mainly short trips. It also costs more than the Equinox EV and Ioniq 5, so a low sticker price is not what sets it apart. The 500e was the only model with a range under 150 miles in the research, which sets the practical limits of its appeal.
8. Tesla Model 3: Standard Trim Arrives
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 starts at $38,630 on Edmunds’ list of cheap EVs, where a Standard version with a 321-mile range joins the existing Long Range duo.
The Standard model’s 321 miles is the longest range quoted in this gallery, ahead of the Equinox EV’s 319. Buyers should confirm which version carries the starting price, since the source describes the Standard as one of several versions. Starting price on its own also leaves out options and incentives, so the real cost of a Model 3 will depend on the configuration a buyer picks.
9. Subaru Solterra: Financing Sweetener
KBB lists the 2026 Subaru Solterra at $39,945 with 0% APR for 48 months on all trims, per its best electric car deals page.
The financing offer changes the math for buyers who borrow, since a zero rate removes interest cost over four years. Incentive terms can change, so the details should be confirmed with a dealer before any comparison with cash prices. The Solterra’s price is above the Model 3’s $38,630, so the 0% offer is the feature that gives it an edge among the models on this list.
10. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Cash and Low APR
KBB lists the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E at $40,490 with 3.9% APR plus $1,500 bonus cash on its electric car deals page.
The bonus cash reduces what a buyer pays up front, while the 3.9% rate applies to any loan. Which matters more depends on whether the purchase is financed, so shoppers should price both paths before choosing. Neither incentive is guaranteed for every buyer, so the 2026 Mach-E price should be treated as a starting point for a conversation with a dealer.
11. Kia Niro EV: Longest Zero-Percent Term
KBB lists the 2026 Kia Niro EV at $41,195, with 0% APR for 72 months available, on the KBB deals roundup.
A 72-month term is longer than the Solterra’s 48 months, which spreads payments over more time at no interest. Shoppers should check eligibility, because the listing describes the rate as available rather than guaranteed to every buyer. The Niro EV’s price is the second highest in this gallery, so the long zero-percent offer may matter more here than the sticker price alone.
12. Tesla Model Y: Best-Selling EV
The 2026 Tesla Model Y starts at $41,630 on Edmunds’ price list, which calls it the best-selling electric vehicle in North America.
It is the highest starting price in this gallery, about $12,600 above the Bolt, yet popularity is its selling point. Buyers should note that the prices span three publications and different dates, so small gaps among models are not precise rankings. The Model Y’s price also sits above the Mach-E at $40,490 and the Niro EV at $41,195, so cost is where it gives ground in this gallery.
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